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Veteran Iannetta providing stability behind the plate

Rockies' catcher off to strong start with bat as well

By Patrick Saunders

The Denver Post

Posted:
04/16/2018 06:37:24 PM MDT

Updated:
04/16/2018 08:19:14 PM MDT

PITTSBURGH — Chris Iannetta turned 35 on April 8. The broad-shouldered catcher admits, without a trace of regret, that he doesn't have the same spring in his step that he did as a Rockies rookie back in 2007.

No regrets, because Iannetta believes he's never been in a better place.

"Absolutely I am. Mentally I am, for sure," said Iannetta, who signed a two-year, $8.5 million, free-agent contract this off-season to return Colorado. "The physical side will come and go. In baseball, you always oscillate, you get hot and cold, in every facet. But my experience has helped me to get to where I am today, helped me get in a comfortable place."

At the plate, Iannetta has been a blessing for a lineup that's been struggling, save for the hot bats of DJ LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon.

Iannetta, who has been tried in the No. 2 spot of late, entered Monday night's game at Pittsburgh hitting .273 with a home run, five doubles and five RBIs. His .373 on-base percentage is almost 30 points higher than his career number of .347.

He got the Rockies started early Monday, smacking a double to right-center in the first inning to drive in LeMahieu and put the Rockies up 1-0.

But it's behind the plate where Iannetta has provided much needed stability. Last Thursday, in Colorado's 5-1 win at Washington, Iannetta and starter Chad Bettis worked in perfect concert. Bettis gave up one run on three hits over seven innings, and needed only 94 pitches to get there. The veteran right-hander shook off Iannetta just once.

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"I really like when Chris is back there, because he's so confident with pitch selection and pitch calling," Bettis said. "Chris is always prepared. Always."

Rockies manager Bud Black said Iannetta's game with Bettis "was one of the better games we've caught this year."

Iannetta arrived at spring training as a new face in the Salt River Fields clubhouse in his second tour with Colorado, but he already knew a lot about his pitchers.

"There is a learning process to get to know a pitching staff," Black said. "That's only natural, but from Day 1, from the day we signed him, Chris was working. He got video on all of our pitchers. He's done all the homework. The communication between Chris and our pitchers has been awesome."

Experience has also allowed Iannetta get the most out of his time. Previously, he would go to the batting cage and take swings for hours, only to emerge sore and exhausted. He would beat himself up mentally for mistakes, passed balls or wild pitches. Those things still rankle him, as they did Sunday when he had a passed ball and an error, but he moves past them.

"It takes a long time to change your mentality on certain things," he said. "When you are younger, you always want to try harder. You always worry about all of the little things and you are always results oriented, not focused on the process. You rely on trying hard and you judge yourself all the time on results. It took me a long time to realize that that it's OK to let go of that. Now, I trust myself. I trust what I know."

Change at the top?

LeMahieu has become the Rockies' leadoff hitter out of necessity early this season, and he's been thriving in that role. Now Black is considering — just considering, mind you — the idea of keeping the second baseman at the leadoff spot.

LeMahieu, who usually bats second, has taken over the top spot because of injuries to Blackmon, who normally hits leadoff, and because Nolan Arenado, normally the No. 3 hitter, is serving a five-game suspension for fighting. Arenado is scheduled to return Friday when the Rockies host the Cubs at Coors Field.

Blackmon, healthy again, has been producing from the No. 3 hole in Arenado's absence.

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